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🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD

LINCS A

Re-entered 13 Mar 2025

LINCS A (NORAD 48902, COSPAR 2021-059Z) was a US satellite that re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Mar 2025, launched on 30 Jun 2021 on the Transporter-2 mission. It was operated by US Space Development Agency / GACO as part of the SDA Cube programme. The spacecraft was built by GACO on the Cubesat 12U bus, with a mass of 20 kg. Like most satellites in low orbits, it was gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until re-entry. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

2021
launched
2025
re-entered
4
years on orbit
20
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched30 Jun 2021 · on the Transporter-2 mission
Operational1 Jul 2021 · entered service
Retired1 Jul 2021 · end of operational service
Re-entered13 Mar 2025 · atmospheric re-entry — object destroyed

Specifications

NORAD ID48902
COSPAR2021-059Z
TypeSatellite
OperatorUS Space Development Agency / GACO
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerGACO
BusCubesat 12U
Mass20 kg
ProgrammeSDA Cube
CategoryCOM
OrbitLEO (LLEO/S)
Altitude521 × 536 km
Inclination97.5°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to LINCS A?

LINCS A re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 13 Mar 2025, ending a mission that began with its launch in 2021. Objects in low orbits are gradually slowed by atmospheric drag until they fall back and burn up on re-entry.

When did LINCS A re-enter the atmosphere?

LINCS A re-entered on 13 Mar 2025, according to Orbital Radar's historical catalogue records.

Who operated and built LINCS A?

LINCS A was operated by US Space Development Agency / GACO and built by GACO (US).

Launched together

Starlink TSP2-01Re-entered 2024LINCS BRe-entered 2025SpaceBEE 111Re-entered 2024Nusat-19Re-entered 2024Umbra-SAR 2001Re-entered 2024Mandrake 2ANORAD 48907Mandrake 2BNORAD 48908PACE-1NORAD 48909
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.